Persepolis to return “en Anglais”

Well, it’s not actually backyet, but it will be in a few weeks. On April 11, an English-languageversion of Marjane Satrapi‘s Persepolis will hit the bigscreen. So, if you missed it the first time because you don’t like subtitles,you have no excuse not to see it this time around. (Of course, if youmissed it the first time around because you were just too lazy or busyand you would rather have seen it in French with subtitles, you’re outof luck. But you still get to see it, so, really, you’re still betteroff.)

I’m not a big fan of dubbedmovies, but this seems like it will work. First, given that it’s animated,the voices won’t be out of sync with the actors lips — which is reallythe worst thing about dubbing.

Second, some of the originalcast recorded the English version as well as the French. CatherineDeneuve is the mother in both versions, and her real-life daughter, Chiara Mastroianni, is the adolescent and adult version of Marjanein both versions. So you still get to hear the loveliness that is CatherineDeneuve, even if you missed the original.

The rest of the major roles,however, have been recast for the English soundtrack. Gena Rowlandswill take over the role of the grandmother, formerly voiced by DanielleDarrieux.

Sean Penn provides the voice for Marjane’sfather. And I must say that I’m having a tough time wrapping my headaround this one. I guess it’s the image of Sean Penn and Catherine Deneuveas husband and wife. Finally, Iggy Pop will play UncleAnouche, Marjane’s political prisoner uncle who was very influentialin her life.

It took me forever to see theoriginal Persepolis, but I finally did and I loved it. Lovedit! So I’m probably going to see this one, too. And I think if youplan to see only one English-language version of an animated French movieabout Iran’s Islamic Revolution this year, this should be the one!

If you need to be remindedof how compelling this movie is, check out a slideshow of Persepolis images here, or the French trailer here.